Belgium, April 14, 2004

Dank u Johan

A perfect end for Museeuw as Boonen takes the flowers in Schoten

Tom Boonen and the Quick.Step-Davitamon team combined give Johan Museeuw the
perfect send off in the last race of his career, with Boonen crossing the line
just centimetres in front of Robbie McEwen to win the 92nd Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen
in Schoten. The race finished in a bunch sprint and once again, Boonen was piloted
to the line by Stefano Zanini, with De Nardi's Simone Cadamuro claiming third
spot.

Museeuw was superb right up to the end, even attacking the peloton with 13
km to go with his full strength. But there were to be no presents from the peloton
for the Lion of Flanders, and he was brought back after 5 kilometres of freedom.
However, as Museeuw also intended, it allowed Quick.Step some breathing space
before preparing the final sprint for Boonen, and the young sprinter did not
let them down.

"I'll never forget what [Museeuw] has done for me," said Boonen after taking
his third big win of the season. Boonen had kept himself active in the last
lap, getting into the various breaks that formed, not wanting to be left behind.
"I saw the guys ride away and I thought of last year. At the end I had Stefano
there, but I came a bit early to the front. Stefano had to do a lot."

Robbie McEwen tried to come around Boonen in the last 100 metres, but the
Lotto-Domo sprinter couldn't, and threw up his arm in frustration and protest
as he crossed the line, accusing Boonen of moving off his line in the sprint.
"I was certain that I would have won," said an angry McEwen. "Tom moved to the
right and I couldn't make my last jump. Therefore I lost the sprint. You're
certainly frustrated if you lose like this.

"I haven't seen the images from above, but I was 100 percent sure that I would
pass him. The jury said to me that in any case they will look at it."

The jury found no reason to disqualify Boonen, as his movement was minimal.
When Boonen heard that McEwen had protested, his response was slightly incredulous.
"I don't know why he would object, I don't see anything wrong with my sprint.
He's probably frustrated because he couldn't win!"

Museeuw's parting words

Although Johan Museeuw did not cry for half an hour after the finish today,
there were mixed emotions from him after his final race. As the huge crowd chanted
"Johan, Johan, Johan", the Lion gave his parting words to the people and the
media. "I feel very sad, very emotional, but happy that it's over, that everything
is behind me. There were some sad moments, but I made a lot of people happy.
To retire like this is the nicest way possible. It's now better that I say goodbye
and start a new life.

"I have no regrets. I've done a lot for the sport and cycling has given me
a lot back. I think I will miss it now. To name names is hard, but thank you
to all who supported me. Thanks everyone."

How it unfolded

It was a perfect day for Museeuw's final race, with the sun shining brightly
in Antwerp's Grote Markt, a light breeze blowing, and a huge mass of people
eager to catch a glimpse of their champion. The Scheldeprijs is traditionally
a sprinters race, run over a dead flat parcours with a few cobbled sections
thrown in for good measure. And with little wind blowing today, it was going
to be difficult to disrupt Quick.Step-Davitamon and Lotto-Domo's plans to have
the race end in a bunch sprint.

Two riders certainly tried: Nico Mattan (Relax-Bodysol) and Andy Cappelle
(Chocolade Jacques), the latter regaining form after a late start to the season.
The pair escaped after 73 km and built up an eight minute lead, which gave them
a comfortable advantage over the peloton as they entered the three finishing
circuits with 51 km to go. But Quick.Step and Lotto-Domo, with occasional help
from FDJeux.com and Landbouwkrediet, drove the peloton in full pursuit, bringing
the gap down to 3'08 with 37 km to go.

Mattan and Cappelle persisted, with Mattan leaving Cappelle behind with 23
km to go, while the gap was still 40 seconds. This wasn't nearly enough, and
although he survived into the bell lap, Mattan was finally hauled in with 13
km left. Just before he was caught, Quick.Step organised a set move for Johan
Museeuw, with Knaven and Hulsmans slowing down as the Museeuw accelerated off
the front for the last time.

Museeuw gave it everything and was immediately able to gain 100 metres lead,
but Lotto-Domo and FDJ were having none of it, and kept the tempo high enough
for Leon van Bon and Roger Hammond to close the gap and catch the Lion with
8 km to go. Tom Boonen saw the danger and jumped across to the group, which
also included Baden Cooke and Bernhard Eisel (FDJ), Aart Vierhouten (Lotto-Domo),
Kirk O'Bee (Navigators) and Jaan Kirsipuu (Ag2r). Of these, Cooke and Boonen
were the last to stay away, but the peloton more or less came back together
with 5 km to go.

Quick.Step assumed the position in front with Knaven, Cretskens, Hulsmans and
Zanini ready to lead out Boonen. Kirsipuu and McEwen (taken up by Leif Hoste)
were also well placed, and it was up to Quick.Step to finish it off. Into a
light headwind, Zanini hit the front with 500m to go with Boonen and McEwen
in tow. Boonen leapt off Zanini's wheel, changing from his 13 into the 12 and
then the 11 tooth cog. McEwen started to come round, but didn't quite have the
legs and even thrust his head towards the big Belgian in the final metres, thinking
that Boonen had moved off his line. But Boonen hadn't, and threw his bike marginally
in front of McEwen's to win the Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen, his third Cat. 1/Hors
Categorie race win this season.

Will Boonen be the next Museeuw? There are a lot of people hoping, needing
another hero as big as Johan.